Prince Bandar in $2 Billion PIckle
ASPEN, COLORADO--What does the little town of Harper Woods, Michigan, unremarkable in so many ways, have to do with the Prince Bandar bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia, Aspen's own monarch with the $135 million manse in the beyond posh Starwood section of this mountain town?
Here in Aspen, in fact, the Prince is known as generous to local charities, kind to animals, and generous to a fault when his multiple wives hit the downtown mall with plastic unlimited. He is also known to ski within a circle of bodyguards, and to rent out the downtown Isis theatre in toto so as to enjoy a movie of his choice in privacy.
In Harper Woods, in contrast, said Sultan is prince non grata, accused by the town's employee pension fund of embezzling some $2 billion over 20 years as the go-between betwixt the Saudi government and BAE Systems of the United Kingdom.
A lawyer for the employees told NPR News: "In the mid-'80s, the Brits were negotiating a large defense contract with Saudi Arabia, nearly $100 billion. Obviously a huge, huge contract and very important to the U.K. and to BAE certainly. As part of the contract there was a side agreement that basically allowed for payments to be funneled to Prince Bandar. Bank examiners and people looking at this have estimated it was nearly $100 million a year or a total of $2 billion that was funneled through various U.S. banks."
Bandar, of course is the former Saudi ambassador to Washington who became great and good friends with everyone from Democrat Jimmy Carter to Republican George W. Bush: Carter's family, including his grandchildren, routinely takes ski vacations to Bandar's palatial spread in Aspen; President Bush is so close to the Bandar family he is called "Bandar Bush."
One of his wives has a political side as well: she has been linked to cash payments that may have found their way into the hands of two of the 9/11 hijackers from Saudi Arabia. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudis, as is Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader behind the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
BAE chief executive officer Mike Turner and a non-executive director of the company, based in England, were issued subpoenas by the U.S. Justice Department in the case when they entered the United States in May, so don't expect Prince Bandar to be coming back to Aspen -- or anywhere in the United States -- any time soon. Better to be a princely billionaire than just an ordinary jailbird.
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Not surprised.
What has happened to bandar?
I figured his withdrawal from the Washington Embassy had to do with the displeasure the Saudi Kingdom must feel towards the Cheney/Bush government.
The Saudis can't be very happy with that catastrofuck going on next door.
While America's MSM continues to ignore this story, the Guardian (UK) hasn't.
http://www
Americans need to wake up before it's too late.
Multinational corporations own 3rd world countries. The US will become a 3rd world country that will be regulated by foreign capitals.
Most of the money goes to the top of the corporation therefore americans being at the bottom have all to loose and NOTHING to gain.
Are we on our way to being a Banana Republic..
WE NEED LEADERSHIP TO GET US BACK INTO TRACK! THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NOT THE ANSWER! THEY BROKE AMERICA WITH THE WAR!
WE SHOULD START ASKING MCSAME HOW IS HE GOING TO PAY FOR 4 MORE YEARS IN IRAK? AND IS HE PLANNING TO SEND OUR SONS INTO BATTLE?
GO OBAMA!
Mmmmmmm... 2 billion dollar pickle.... aaaawwgghh
We should not be selling our country to foreigners. NO foreigners should be allowed to own American land, let them own the buildings on the land but NOT the land, that is OUR heritage.
Why doesn't Colorado sell the land then & put the money to housing for poor Americans? The 135 million dollar spread could pay for a lot of apartments. Then symbolicly bulldoze the house as a signal to the end of our kissing Saudi ass. Aspen could have a new park. It would be awesome if Obama would publicly address the cushy relationship the prince has w/ Bush & declare it null, and deal with the Saudis like anyone else would--with great care not to be bought & sold. This news should be plastered all over the t.v., especially the part about one of Bandar's wives' connection to Saudi terrorists. That would mean that our good Pres has not only known about, but had quaint lunches with someone directly related to the attacks. Whose money do you think she gave the culprits?
kiko,
the govt. doesnt just come in and confiscate your house and do whatever they want with it (within reason of course, we are not talking eminent domain here).
how about the govt comes and take your house away.
Get real, of course the country is for sale its called a Global economy. You increase the value of assets by making them avialble to more money. More buyers more demand higher prices. So your damn right USA is on the market and its gonna stay ont he market. Nearly every other country is on the market, and if its not, we will invade them, organize a revolution, organize a coup, throw on sanctions for some trumped up human rights violations until you let USA treat you like a cheap whore. America has done this many times to many nations, its called free market capitalism. You might be sad your country is getting sold down the river but the financial interest are not rearranging the global economy cause USA is a poorly governed country. They just gonna keep chugging along making money in other countries as the US tanks. Any protectionist action will just put USA in the firing line. Foreign interest have a great deal of leverage on America dont forget that.
Yeah! That's our heritage! We stole it fair and square from the savages!
Listen, America chose Capitalism. If you want to keep the land in "American" hands, you might vote Communist in the next election.
Now that is a stupid juxtaposition.
There are only 2 alternatives? Capitalism or Communism?
I would think there are an infinite different ways of running a Capitalist society. Or a Communist one, for that matter.
Bush has already dismissed the case unilaterally and awarded the prince $50 million in compensatory damages stemming from the accusation. He has also exempted Bandar from any and all prosecution related to money, drugs, and/or corruption. It's just GREAT to be king.
Really? Wow!
Rubbish. Bush can't do that (as far as I know... some sort of State Department directive for handling of diplomats??). Please link!
It's called diplomatic immunity.
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